Scoring Goals Worth More Than A Point

Feb 04, 2014

By Emily CorreiaSpecial to GoHolyCross.com

Like many sports teams at Holy Cross, the hockey programs hold
their annual breast cancer awareness games to raise money and
support for the cause. Beyond the pink game, 2013 graduate
Brandon Nunn thought that there was a little more
they could do. The team had previously worked with Pink Revolution
during the Pink the Rink games in the two years before, so Nunn
reached out to them to engineer a way to raise more money for such
a great cause. During Nunn's junior year, 2011-2012, Power Play
Points for Pink was born. "With our rigorous schedule between
hockey and schoolwork, it was tough for us to spend time and get
involved in the community," said Nunn. So the project took off. The
men's, women's and club hockey teams began raising money for the
project simply by playing in their games. For every power play goal
scored at home, they raised money for the cause from pledges by
their donors. During Nunn's senior year, the Holy Cross men's power
play unit scored 23 goals at home and the organization raised over
$18,000 for the cause, more than quadruple the $4,000 during the
first year. The organization also accepts one-time donations, and
does various single-donation campaigns during the season as
well.

Though Nunn graduated last year, he passed the torch down to
junior Tommy Dwyer
(Ridgefield, Conn.) and sophomore Matt Vidal
(Manorville, N.Y.) to keep the tradition alive. "I knew
that I wanted to get involved with an organization at Holy Cross
that raised breast cancer awareness," Vidal reflected. "When
Brandon asked me if I wanted to be a part of his Power Play Points
for Pink organization, I knew it was the opportunity I was looking
for." Breast cancer hit close to home with Vidal as his mother is a
two-time survivor and his aunt was recently diagnosed. For Dwyer
and Vidal, taking over the organization meant more than just to
keep the organization going. Dwyer recalled, "Brandon put in so
much effort and had such a huge amount of success in his two years
running Power Play Points for Pink. Matt and I knew the great
opportunity he presented us, so we want to replicate the results he
had."

Teamed up with the women's program and the club team, the
organization works to raise as much money as they can for the
cause. All three teams share Nunn's original passion for raising
money for the fight against breast cancer. The organization created
a committee with two members from each of the three participating
teams to help with the collaborative efforts. Nunn noted that by
having a committee with people representing all different years,
the program can continue to grow and thrive during the coming
years. Sophomore women's hockey player Kati Goguen (Acton, Mass.) appreciates how
closely the teams work to unite for a bigger cause. "My favorite
thing about Power Play Points for Pink is having the opportunity to
give back for a cause that has affected so many lives, just by
playing a sport that I, and the rest of the members, all share a
passion for," she said. "Being able to work with the other teams
creates a very supportive atmosphere here on campus because we are
all fighting to cure breast cancer through the sport, all wanting
each other to be just as successful as we are ourselves." Senior
captain Amanda Gallagher (Park Ridge, Ill.) also noted
that the collaboration between the three teams on campus really
makes the program unique. "All our teams experience both triumph
and defeat throughout our seasons," she said. "It is easy to get
caught up in the chaos of our own individual teams. However, having
Power Play Points for Pink allows our teams to step away from our
individual successes by working together to support women fighting
breast cancer by simply scoring goals, something we all love to
do."

Gallagher recalled that she takes particular interest on the
special teams situations during games now that these particular
goals contribute to the success of the program. "Every time I
attend a home hockey event, whether I am on the ice or not, I take
special notice of the power play chances knowing that every goal
scored makes a difference to those women who are fighting breast
cancer," Gallagher said. Gallagher is joined by teammate Goguen on
the committee. Goguen also looks for the value of the goals that
they score over the course of the season. "The most important thing
about the Power Play Points for Pink organization is that it's not
just one event or game where we raise money," she shared. "This
organization continues throughout the season. It gives players more
incentive to look outside themselves and reflect on other things
going on around us, and the fact that scoring a goal makes a
difference to those women who are fighting breast cancer is very
important." Club hockey senior captain Eric Sherman shared that his
favorite part of the program was also the far reaching impacts of
their game. He said that the best thing about Power Play Points for
Pink is, "Scoring power play goals that mean much more than just a
point on the scoreboard."

"I think the most important thing about having an organization
like this is that people and students come together for a great
cause," club hockey senior assistant captain Tyler Bao noted. "Yes,
Holy Cross is a small school but rarely do you see everyone come
together for something, but for this it's all-around support."
Sherman also believes that this organization is so important to
campus because it gets the students and the fans involved in
raising money and awareness for breast cancer. The players involved
with the program all share the notion that this program is about
more than just their teams' involvement. Nunn remembers that, "My
favorite thing about Power Play Points for Pink is seeing our
school bonding together with the Worcester community in raising
money for a great cause. This all culminates at our Pink the Rink
game every year in which members from the Worcester community, many
of them donors, come to watch our game in which the team auctions
off game worn pink jerseys. It is always sold out, with major
support coming from the students who have almost all purchased Pink
the Rink t-shirts. There are always breast cancer survivors who
sing the national anthem and drop the ceremonial puck, and hearing
the stories from these incredible women is truly inspirational."
The atmosphere of Pink the Rink really resonates with Bao. "The
stands and the rink are packed, everyone is cheering and willing to
donate because they want to help and contribute to such a
successful organization," he recalls as an important part to the
success of the event. "Everyone is either wearing the t-shirts
designed for the event or just pink in general and it brings a
smile to your face knowing that just by doing that alone, it
helps."

Gallagher also believes that by participating in this program she
is doing something that is far bigger than herself or her
teammates. "It's not a secret that I love playing hockey," she
continued. "I've been blessed with the opportunity to play since I
was eight years old and a healthy body that has allowed me to do
so. I realize that others have not been given those same blessings
and in a blink of an eye my life could change, similar to a woman
who has just been told she has breast cancer. Participating in
Power Play Points for Pink makes me appreciate my health and the
blessings I've been given." Power Play Points for Pink has also
made an imprint on Goguen's life. "I just wanted to say how
grateful I am to be a part of Power Play Points for Pink," she
said. "Hockey has always been a huge part of my life, and Power
Play Points for Pink has given me the opportunity to do something I
love, while fighting for a bigger cause." Vidal also agreed that
this program really bonded the team's love for the sport with the
ability to use their hockey skills to bring success off the ice as
well. "My favorite part is how by playing a sport we are able to
impact the lives of those affected by breast cancer," Vidal
mentioned. "Not only are we helping the team win when we score our
home power play goals but at the same time we are also raising
money for those touched by breast cancer which is pretty
special."

Breast cancer has affected everyone
either directly or indirectly during their lives. The members of
the committee each have a distinct reason why they support the
cause.

Why do you pink?

"I pink because it is a great organization to be a part of
because breast cancer is something that is tough to go through, I
want to help everyone in need because cancer is a struggle and it's
great to see the faces on past patients or present patients when we
tell them how much money is raised." Tyler Bao, senior
assistant captain, club hockey.

"I pink because I hope our efforts will help support and
encourage those fighting an illness that hits close to home for
nearly everyone." Eric Sherman, senior captain, club
hockey.

"I pink because I want to do whatever I can to give to
others who have encountered health challenges." Amanda
Gallagher, senior captain, women's ice hockey.

"I pink because I believe that this is a great way to lend
a hand to those that need and deserve it and work with other teams
on campus." Kati Goguen, sophomore forward, women's ice
hockey.

"I pink because when I was a little kid, my godmother
passed away from breast cancer and members of my family have
battled various types of cancer so it's close to the heart for both
me and Matt." Tommy Dwyer, junior forward, men's ice
hockey.

"I pink because breast cancer has touched my family and I
have witnessed what patients have to go through to fight cancer and
would like to help raise money so that others have a better chance
of beating this disease." Matt Vidal, sophomore forward,
men's ice hockey.

On Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 the women's ice hockey team will kick off
the pink weekend with its Pink the Rink game at 7:00 p.m. against
Nichols. The women's team will be wearing pink jerseys and
continuing to raise money for Pink Revolution. On Saturday, Feb.
15, the Holy Cross men's hockey program will host its fifth annual
"Pink the Rink" at the Hart Center during its game versus
Connecticut at 7:00 p.m. The team will be wearing a special edition
white and pink jersey to show its support for breast cancer
awareness. The jerseys will be auctioned off throughout the game
with all proceeds going to Pink Revolution, which is an alliance of
dedicated individuals with a unified commitment to those touched by
breast cancer. Its mission is to support early detection and
prevention strategies, fund clinical research advancements and
promote survivorship programs in Central Mass. through its
affiliation with the UMass Memorial Comprehensive Breast Center. A
ceremonial puck drop will feature Nancy Vidal, mother of
Vidal, and a breast cancer survivor. Also a limited amount of
special edition "Pink the Rink" t-shirts will be available for
purchase along with a chuck-a-puck competition during an
intermission and a 50/50 raffle.

College of the Holy CrossDepartment of Athletics 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610